Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

Hey SSTers,

In an attempt to help out my fellow ISS editors as well as compile some special content for our next Self-Storage Talk page in the ISS print magazine, I need some of your thoughts regarding crime, law enforcement and safety. If you could please take a few moments to share your insight, I would really appreciate it.

Question: Have you ever felt unsafe at work? If so, why did you feel that way and what did you do about it?

Re: Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

Fear is an emotion I only re-discovered after my wife passed away sixteen years ago. Early in my life I probably experienced it when my abusive father beat me but I learned from him to never express those emotions. While working in this industry I have encoutered a broad sprectrum of humanity, most of whom are decent, but occassionallly you get to interact with the type that are either existing in a world of drugs or mental illness that make you uncomfortable. I seldom have a problem dealing with these types because of my past but when they fail to respond to "reason". I merely summon the local police force to remove them from the property.

Re: Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

Yes, Tony, I have felt unsafe at work a couple of times. Both times had to do with irate tenants who actually threatened me personally as well as my business. Both times I called 911, and the cops were here in a moment. One of the guys was taken in the patrol car to jail, and the other was gone by the time the cops arrived. It's unfortunate to have to resort to calling the cops, but it is creepy that people feel the only way they can get a point across, or whatever, is to make a threat. Good grief.

Re: Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

We have a tenant at one of our facilities who is always inebriated when he comes. As the facility is run by women (usually one at a time) with a maintenance man once a week, he makes us all a little uncomfortable. Fortunately, he doesn't live near the facility and usually mails his payments. When we see him pull in, however, we are sure that we have the pepper spray with in quick reach.

The site manager at the same facility was recently threatened by a tenant we auctioned after giving her multiple opportunities to pay and avoid sale, but she left when she realized the manager was calling the police. Its a small town, so the police can usually respond pretty quickly if needed. I believe they also have a free unit, and a gate code, just in case they feel like breezing through to check things out. ;-)

Re: Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

At the property we managed previously, there was reason for fear all the time. The property was in a bad neighborhood that all around us was crime of all sorts.

We were awakened in the middle of the night once with the police helicopter flying low over the property and shining their lights up and down the driveways. We could hear the police and their dogs just outside our bedroom window. My husband did not go out of the apartment until we called 911 to let them know he was coming out and who he was. Long story short, there was a break-in at one of the homes behind the property and the owner shot the person. The police were following a "blood trail" that came into our property as well as exited. Thankfully there was nobody on the property and we were all safe.

This was a neighborhood that we just would not leave our "gated" area at night and travel through the community. Luckily we are now in a lovely community in Claremont CA that not only do we get out at night, we are active in the community and crime prevention (which we don't have much of).

So, yes. . . . we have felt unsafe while at work and it is NOT a good feeling.

Re: Have You Ever Feared for Your Safety at Work?

Our facility here mostly deals with customers that pay with cash because they can't afford credit cards. A number of co-workers say that they are afraid of some of the people that come in but I grew up in this town and don't fear at all. I have come to the conclusion that if you treat them with respect, you get respect. A lot of the times, if you give it first and they get nasty with you, you can instantly say, "Can I ask for some respect?" they may look at you funny, and if they decline, then you can politely say, "I have respected you since you walked through the door, I would ask the same from a nice person like yourself." Works like a charm.

We also have given local law enforcement a gate code and they do a drive through once a week at odd hours.